Pelargonium plant named ‘Duesarelre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duesarelre’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESARELRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesarelre’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants with dark-colored leaves and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2009 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-013-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-020-0418, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesarelre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesarelre’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large red-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Zonal Geranium have lighter red-colored flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more compact than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the male parent selection differ in leaf color as plants of the new Zonal Geranium have darker green-colored leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium zonale ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,237. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were larger than plants of         ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than         plants of ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had darker red-colored         flowers than plants of ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesarelre’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duesarelre’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-013-001, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number F-020-0418, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; uniformly             rounded; densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about             seven basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 34 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 60 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Strength:             Moderately strong. Color: Close to 143B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 139A; venation, close to 139A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 144A.         -   Zonation pattern.—Distance from margin: About 1.1 cm. Width:             About 1.5 cm. Color: Close to 147A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 141B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double type flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about 21 flowers             per umbel and about twelve flower umbels developing per             plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer until the             autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.8 cm by 5.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 6.6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 45A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44A;             colors becoming closer to 187A with development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 44A; color             becoming closer to 187A with development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About four to five arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 44A. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 44A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2.4 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 149A tinged with close to 60A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter:             About 3.6 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: About 1.8 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 60A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About six. Filament length: About 8.2 mm. Filament color:             Close to 46D. Anther length: About 1.4 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 33A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:             Tapering. Stigma color: Close to 53C. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: Close to 53C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geranium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duesarelre’ as illustrated and described. 